One HDMI Out, 2 HDMI Ins...solution?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 28, 2005, 12:01 am

My TV has only one HDMI channel, yet I have both a DVD player and DVR that I want to connect to the TV via HDMI. Is there a 'hub' or something that will work? I really don't want to spend much more money for this and am at a loss, unless I want to switch wires when I change from DVD to cable, etc...

Any ideas?

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » December 28, 2005, 12:07 am

Prepare to pay the piper!

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/hdmi-2x1-switch.htm

I don't think here's a cheap solution to that one.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » December 28, 2005, 12:16 am

http://www.gefen.com has the most inexpensive stuff Ive seen for HDMI switching, but still a bit pricey.

Your best bang for the buck is a receiver capable of switching HDMI (Pioneer Elite VSX72TXV is the cheapest I know of).... $1k retail/6-700 online.

Otherwise, hook the DVR up through component, and use the HDMI for DVD, most of the time that will be better.

(Edit: I Should really read Winnow's links... we linked the same product

)

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 28, 2005, 12:24 am

Damn, I figured there had to be a cheap solution, but both of you came up with the same things I did in my brief search for HDMI switching. I thought I had it made since my receiver has 2 HDMI, so I bought another HDMI cable(bye $50) to run from the DVR to the HDMI IN on my receiver. However, Comcast says that the HDMI needs to run directly to TV since the receiver causes mass distortion (which it did).

Since my DVD is an upconvert(1080i), HDMI is really the only good thing to use. I guess I will just have to settle with the component connection for the DVR...was just hoping to clarify the aud/vid quality a hair and remove clutter from the back of the TV.

I am hoping that the XBox 360 has no problems with feeding via HDMI into my receiver(assuming that the new XBox is HDMI capable).

Thanks guys!

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » December 28, 2005, 12:28 am

What receiver? Comcast is 9 times out of 10 full of shit....

The DVR's here in the DC Metro area with both Comcast and Cox Cable have the HDMI and DVI connections turned off.

What you can do, is turn the cable box off, but leave the TV on, hit the menu button on the front of the cable box, and that should bring up the resolution output screen. In this screen, make sure TV res is set to 1080i, 480 override is 1080i, and screen is 16:9. Then try HDMI switching again.

(HDMI is a Digital Output, while I have seen many cases of receivers loosing synch, and cheap cables giving sparklies in the picture, neither causes distortion in the picture). Comcast is simply pointing at the part of the equation that they cant control as the problem, they have 0 experiance with new tech in A/V.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 28, 2005, 12:59 am

I will try that. I had just recently set my override to 480i so I could get a larger display on non-HD broadcasts...I think I did that after I was messing with the HDMI via DVR.

Will check now.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 28, 2005, 1:08 am

DVR is recording atm...will have to wit about 30 minutes or so to try this. If it still does not work, I am guessing that the HDMI port on the DVR is not yet in use fully.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » December 28, 2005, 1:22 am

Plug the HDMI from the DVR directly into the TV (you can do this while recording) and see if it works.... but, dont change resolutions until its done recording.

Oh, and the override shouldnt matter, the DVR has zoom modes built into it, should be a zoom button on the remote.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 28, 2005, 1:41 am

Yeah. HDMI works if direct from DVR to TV. Sound is good as well via receiver. I wonder why it will not relay through receiver? wacky

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » December 28, 2005, 2:39 am

What receiver?..... and at what resolutions? Also, when it is plugged through the receiver, have you tried changing inputs on the TV, then back to HDMI?...

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 28, 2005, 3:45 pm

http://www.samsung.com/Products/HomeThe ... 40TXAA.asp

Not sure what you mean about changing inputs (I am new to this, obviously)

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » December 28, 2005, 8:34 pm

Set the DVR to 1080i override, plug it into the receiver, plug receiver/DVD player into TV. Put TV on HDMI input, change receiver to TV Input. This should be sending the video for DVR to TV. If no picture, take the TV remote, and change inputs (to input 1 or whatever) then change back to HDMI input on TV. If this doesnt fix it, Samsung's HDMI switching is crap and the Gefen is your best solution.

It is possible on a HTIB product that there are features that are not working, I would call samsung support and bitch, OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS.